How to Evaluate a Nursing Job Offer

Intangible Benefits

For many nurses, the intangibles are just as important as the compensation. What intangible benefit do nurses seek most of all? Respect. Ask prospective employers how they ensure a smooth relationship among doctors and nurses, among nurses at different levels, and among nurses and the facility’s administration.

Of course, ask the nurses already there about the realities of their working environment. The employer may assure you there’s a sufficient nurse-to-patient ratio, but do the nurses agree?

Find out if the organization has a mentor program in which an experienced nurse guides a newcomer through the technical details (such as the company’s paperwork, computer systems and drug regulations) of the new-hire process. Get a sense as to whether you’ll be able to turn to your mentor beyond the first day for help in navigating the organization’s political and bureaucratic minefields as well as for career-development advice.

Consider the overall environment in which you’ll be working. For instance, if you’re a mother who needs to get home to young children at a certain time every day, then an urban emergency room is probably not right for you. Instead, check out smaller community hospitals, senior care or rehab centers, where you can pretty much be assured of clocking out at a regular time.

If you’re looking to develop expertise in a specialty – either now or down the road – research the organization’s reputation in that area, and ask about opportunities for moving into it. Also, check with nursing associations geared to that specialty. They’re another great place to find mentors and get all the information you’ll need for working in that field.

The bottom line? Nursing offers numerous opportunities for finding exactly what’s right for you, wherever you are in your career. And with the current market, you’re in the driver’s seat when it comes to negotiation.